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cheese

There once was a time when I really, really liked how Geoff Johns approached the writing of comic books. I am not ashamed to admit that one iota. Back when he used to "fix" things, characters who had been broken through nothing more than neglect or horrific, short-term ideas that paid no heed to what makes superheroes, especially DC heroes, great.

That started to change around the time of Infinite Crisis, when it became crystal clear that what Johns was doing was far worse: He wasn't restoring characters to a good state because it was the right thing to do. He was restoring characters that he liked to a good state...and to hell with any other concept that he didn't care for.

So. Freedom Fighters? Slaughtered. Earth-2 Superman? Beaten to death by one of the single-worst characters ever introduced in comics. Man crush on Black Adam? Yep. Clear disdain for Billy Batson and the concept of Captain Marvel? Yep.

What works for Aquaman, which is a concept he likes, sure doesn't seem to take with Ray Palmer or Rex Mason, for example.

But this isn't about that. This is about Green Lantern #20, which ends one of the longer runs on a book/franchise that we'll see in this era -- and the end of a run which I have called for numerous times because...it was time. Time for new creators to bring a new energy to the concept.

Green Lantern #20, though...it did something I didn't think Johns was capable of doing anymore: I had thought that he was so cynical in his writing now that he simply wasn't capable of delivering the "Whatever Happened to..." vignettes that he provided for all of the principal characters in the series.

The issue itself...I didn't care about Volthoom or Black Hand or the Wrath of the First Lantern storyline. Whether that was good or not, I'll let others decide.

But for those vignettes...it was nice. They were nice. Because I'm so sick of the Good Guys always losing or being incompetent...it was just nice to think, even for just a few pages, that Johns remembers that some people -- at least, I do -- read these things because we want to root for the lead characters, we want them to "win" even though they face challenges, and that we want to believe that if they are chosen, or choose to be heroes, that they will succeed in their tasks.

I am as critical of DC and its practices as anyone. But for one month, for a few pages of an oversized issue, it was nice to remember what Geoff Johns and DC used to be: A writer and company where hope was always possible.

cheese

There once was a time when I really, really liked how Geoff Johns approached the writing of comic books. I am not ashamed to admit that one iota. Back when he used to "fix" things, characters who had been broken through nothing more than neglect or horrific, short-term ideas that paid no heed to what makes superheroes, especially DC heroes, great.

That started to change around the time of Infinite Crisis, when it became crystal clear that what Johns was doing was far worse: He wasn't restoring characters to a good state because it was the right thing to do. He was restoring characters that he liked to a good state...and to hell with any other concept that he didn't care for.

So. Freedom Fighters? Slaughtered. Earth-2 Superman? Beaten to death by one of the single-worst characters ever introduced in comics. Man crush on Black Adam? Yep. Clear disdain for Billy Batson and the concept of Captain Marvel? Yep.

What works for Aquaman, which is a concept he likes, sure doesn't seem to take with Ray Palmer or Rex Mason, for example.

But this isn't about that. This is about Green Lantern #20, which ends one of the longer runs on a book/franchise that we'll see in this era -- and the end of a run which I have called for numerous times because...it was time. Time for new creators to bring a new energy to the concept.

Green Lantern #20, though...it did something I didn't think Johns was capable of doing anymore: I had thought that he was so cynical in his writing now that he simply wasn't capable of delivering the "Whatever Happened to..." vignettes that he provided for all of the principal characters in the series.

The issue itself...I didn't care about Volthoom or Black Hand or the Wrath of the First Lantern storyline. Whether that was good or not, I'll let others decide.

But for those vignettes...it was nice. They were nice. Because I'm so sick of the Good Guys always losing or being incompetent...it was just nice to think, even for just a few pages, that Johns remembers that some people -- at least, I do -- read these things because we want to root for the lead characters, we want them to "win" even though they face challenges, and that we want to believe that if they are chosen, or choose to be heroes, that they will succeed in their tasks.

I am as critical of DC and its practices as anyone. But for one month, for a few pages of an oversized issue, it was nice to remember what Geoff Johns and DC used to be: A writer and company where hope was always possible.

*Sniff, sniff* "Damn it, Diana...If I'd known they would trade us in for a JT Krul-written Captain Atom and "The Savage Hawkman," I'd have let Superboy-Prime destroy all reality."

"Superman flies and is really strong...what the fuck else do you need to know?!" -- Hitler, expressing his displeasure about DC rebooting and complaints about continuity

DANG!

That started to change around the time of Infinite Crisis, when it became crystal clear that what Johns was doing was far worse: He wasn't restoring characters to a good state because it was the right thing to do. He was restoring characters that he liked to a good state...and to hell with any other concept that he didn't care for.

So. Freedom Fighters? Slaughtered. Earth-2 Superman? Beaten to death by one of the single-worst characters ever introduced in comics. Man crush on Black Adam? Yep. Clear disdain for Billy Batson and the concept of Captain Marvel? Yep.

DANG!

That started to change around the time of Infinite Crisis, when it became crystal clear that what Johns was doing was far worse: He wasn't restoring characters to a good state because it was the right thing to do. He was restoring characters that he liked to a good state...and to hell with any other concept that he didn't care for.

So. Freedom Fighters? Slaughtered. Earth-2 Superman? Beaten to death by one of the single-worst characters ever introduced in comics. Man crush on Black Adam? Yep. Clear disdain for Billy Batson and the concept of Captain Marvel? Yep.

Johns must have really hated the Legion with what he did with it.

Same goes for Superman.

"I have my heroes, but no one knows their names"- Sons of the Desert

Strict31 wrote:I'm not sure that combining the nigh-uncontrollable power of LOLtron with the Nacireman is a good idea. Some years from now, when mankind is on the verge of extinction, we'll be able to look back and remember this moment, and say, "DANG."

The Old Doctor

Outhouse Editor

Okay I admit it. This was a fitting end to a great run. I'm a little disappointed at Kyle's "end". But for one character's end? Sinestro's? WORTH IT. Along with Ganthet. THAT SMURF DESERVED A HAPPY ENDING. I'm VERY pleased.

The only other wish I have? One final splash page of the other villains of GL: Nekron, the Anti-Monitor, Krona, Black Hand, Cyborg Superman, Hector Hammond, Manhunters, Superboy Prime, and Mongul.

Outhouse Editor

Okay I admit it. This was a fitting end to a great run. I'm a little disappointed at Kyle's "end". But for one character's end? Sinestro's? WORTH IT. Along with Ganthet. THAT SMURF DESERVED A HAPPY ENDING. I'm VERY pleased.

The only other wish I have? One final splash page of the other villains of GL: Nekron, the Anti-Monitor, Krona, Black Hand, Cyborg Superman, Hector Hammond, Manhunters, Superboy Prime, and Mongul.

Just one more glorious splash page of those rogues.

sdsichero wrote:I especially like and admire Zechs. He's everything I wish I could be!

Outhouse Drafter

Not going to lie, I got choked up when little Hal thought that older Hal was his dad and hugged him telling him that he missed him. It was a great moment that really made the entire issue something special. Excellent finale for Geoff Johns.

Outhouse Drafter

Not going to lie, I got choked up when little Hal thought that older Hal was his dad and hugged him telling him that he missed him. It was a great moment that really made the entire issue something special. Excellent finale for Geoff Johns.

Outhouse Editor

Grayson wrote:Not going to lie, I got choked up when little Hal thought that older Hal was his dad and hugged him telling him that he missed him. It was a great moment that really made the entire issue something special. Excellent finale for Geoff Johns.

That didn't choke me up. Ganthet surviving along with Sayd did. The cheese happy ending those two smurfs deserved.

Outhouse Editor

Grayson wrote:Not going to lie, I got choked up when little Hal thought that older Hal was his dad and hugged him telling him that he missed him. It was a great moment that really made the entire issue something special. Excellent finale for Geoff Johns.

That didn't choke me up. Ganthet surviving along with Sayd did. The cheese happy ending those two smurfs deserved.

sdsichero wrote:I especially like and admire Zechs. He's everything I wish I could be!

Staff Writer

Zechs wrote:Okay I admit it. This was a fitting end to a great run. I'm a little disappointed at Kyle's "end". But for one character's end? Sinestro's? WORTH IT.

Yeah, Kyle's "end" seemed a bit flat but I think the point was that, instead of retiring as the others did, he continued to help as many people as possible until his final days. It was also surprising to follow Sinestro's path.

Staff Writer

Zechs wrote:Okay I admit it. This was a fitting end to a great run. I'm a little disappointed at Kyle's "end". But for one character's end? Sinestro's? WORTH IT.

Yeah, Kyle's "end" seemed a bit flat but I think the point was that, instead of retiring as the others did, he continued to help as many people as possible until his final days. It was also surprising to follow Sinestro's path.

biny little tird

The best part of Johns' run is portraying the complex relationship that's developed between Hal Jordan and Sinestro. One of the best moments in this issue is when Hal asks Sinestro if they were every truly friends and Sinestro says: “That’s the tragedy of all of this, Jordan. Hal. We’ll always be friends.”

biny little tird

The best part of Johns' run is portraying the complex relationship that's developed between Hal Jordan and Sinestro. One of the best moments in this issue is when Hal asks Sinestro if they were every truly friends and Sinestro says: “That’s the tragedy of all of this, Jordan. Hal. We’ll always be friends.”

Rain Partier

Johnny Smith wrote:The best part of Johns' run is portraying the complex relationship that's developed between Hal Jordan and Sinestro. One of the best moments in this issue is when Hal asks Sinestro if they were every truly friends and Sinestro says: “That’s the tragedy of all of this, Jordan. Hal. We’ll always be friends.”

wait...lolwut? that legit sounds like the dumbest thing ever written in a DC comic ever. EVER. shit like this is exactly the reason I finally dropped Johns's GL. absolutely retarded.

Rain Partier

Johnny Smith wrote:The best part of Johns' run is portraying the complex relationship that's developed between Hal Jordan and Sinestro. One of the best moments in this issue is when Hal asks Sinestro if they were every truly friends and Sinestro says: “That’s the tragedy of all of this, Jordan. Hal. We’ll always be friends.”

wait...lolwut? that legit sounds like the dumbest thing ever written in a DC comic ever. EVER. shit like this is exactly the reason I finally dropped Johns's GL. absolutely retarded.